Float



OLIVER A. BENOIT, OF WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS.

FLOAT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 546,771, datedSeptember 24, 1895.

Application filed May 20, 1895. Serial No. 549,860. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, OLIVER A. BENOIT, a citizen of the UnitedStates,"residing at Worcester, in the county of Worcester and State ofMassachusetts, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Floats, ofwhich the following is a specification.

My invention relates to an improved float for fish-lines.

The object of my invention is to provide means for so attaching a floatto a fish-line that when a pull or tension is exerted upon the line thefastening device will become (16? tached, so that the line may be freelyreeled in through the running connection or ring at the opposite end ofthe float, the fastening device being so constructed that it will alsobe detached when brought into contact with the tip or fixture at the endof a pole.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a view illustrating the normalposition of the float, and Fig. 2 is a similar view illustrating theposition. of the parts when the fastening device at one end of the floathas become detached.

A float constructed according to my invention comprises a body portionof cork or other suitable material, a pivoted split ring or other formof running connection secured near one end of the float, and aspring-clip for detachably engaging the line near the other end of thefloat.

Referring to the drawings and-in detail, 10 designates the body portion,which is formed of cork or other material in the ordinary manner.Extending centrally from the body portion or secured therein is a quillor downwardlyextending arm 11. Pivoted at the lower end of thedownwardly-extending arm 11 is a split ring 12. The split ring 12 isadapted to surround and loosely engage with the fish-line A, so thatsaid line may be freely drawn through the same. If preferred, however,any other form of running connection can be employed near the lower endof the float. Projecting up centrally from the body portion 10 is aquill or arm 13. If desired, the quills 11 and 13 may be formedintegrally. Secured at the upper end of the quill 13 is a spring-clip orfastening device. The springclip, as illustrated, is formed by a doublestrand or two spring-wires 1A and 15, which extend at an angle with thequill 13 and are bent back to form an angle or elbow 16, which will actas a cam and will automatically detach the springclip from the line whenbrought into contact with the tip or fixture at the'end of a pole. Asillustrated in Fig. 1, the fish-line A is inserted at the elbow 16between the spring-wires 14 and 15. By means of this arrangement it willbe seen that the line A in its normal position rests against the side ofthe body portion 10. VVhenevera considerable tension or pull is exertedupon the line A, the line will tendto straighten, and the spring-clip orfastening device will be forced out of engagement with the line, theparts assuming substantially the relation illustrated in Fig. 2. Whenthe spring-clip has been detached from the line and the parts haveassumed the position illustrated in Fig.

2, it is obvious that the line may be reeled in and will then slipfreely through the ring 12 without drawing or reeling in the float.

The use of a float constructed according to my invention is especiallyadvantageous in deep-water fishing, or wherever it is desired to use aconsiderable length of line below the float.

The use of an ordinary float or bob is objectionable, especially indeep-water fishing, as a float or bob which is rigidly secured to theline presents an obstruction which cannot be reeled in past the head ofthe pole, and where a considerable length of line is employed below thefloat difficulty is frequently encountered in' managing or landing thefish.

Where a float constructed according to my invention is employed, thespring-clip or fastening device Will become detached whenever a strikeis encountered, or tension is exerted on the line, and the fish'may thenbe reeled in as near to the end of the pole as may be desired. It isalso to be noted that a float constructed according to my invention willnot interfere with a free reeling-in of the line, even when the tensionexerted on the line is not sufficient to detach the spring-clip.

As shown by dotted lines in Fig. 1, it will be seen that as the line isreeled in alonga pole B the tip or fixture b at the end of the pole willcome in contact with the spring-clip above the elbow 16, which will actas a cam and crowd the spring-clip out of engagement with the line A, sothat the line can then be freely reeled in, as illustrated in Fig. 2.

I am aware that changes may be made in the construction of my improvedfloat by those who are skilled in the art, and I do not wish, therefore,to be limited to the exact construction which I have shown anddescribed; but

Vhat I do claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the UnitedStates, is

A float for fish-lines comprising a body portion 10, a downwardlyextending arm 11, a pivoted split ring 2, an upwardly projecting arm 13,a spring clip or fastening device formed by the parallel spring wires 14and 15 OLIVER A. BENOIT.

Witnesses:

PHILIP W. SOUTHGATIJ, LOUIS W. SOUTHGATE.

